Shingle bundle stacker



Oct. 2, 1962 G. H. WILLIAMSON SHINGLE BUNDLE STACKER Filed Jan. 21, 1959 INVENTOR GEORGE H.W|L|.|AM50N ATTORNILlY Oct. 2, 1962 Filed Jan. 21. 1959 G. H. WILLIAMSON SHINGLE BUNDLE STAGKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. b- GEORGE H.W||.uAmSorI I BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 2, 1962 3,056,514 SHHNGLE BUNDLE STACKER George H. Williamson, Somerville, N.J., assignor to Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 788,151 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) This invention relates to an apparatus for stacking bundles of sheet-like articles of manufacture, as for example, roofing shingles or the like, received from a mass production fabrication line.

In mass producing flat, sheet-like or planar type articles of manufacture, as, for example, roofing shingles, siding shingles and the like, such articles are commonly bundled into a package convenient for shipping. As such bundles are emitted from the fabrication line, they are stacked in tiers in a predetermined manner for carting away of such piled stacks of bundles by mechanized apparatus, as, for example, a fork lift truck. Heretofore, shingle bundles, and the like, have been stacked on loading trays manually. The stacking arrangement is usually a staggered one, i.e., a tier of bundles is placed on a platform with the following tier placed at right angles to the tier below and the subsequent tier placed at right angles to the preceding tier or in the same direction as the first tier. This stacking arrangement, or any other similar form of staggered stacking arrangement, is usually required to prevent toppling of the upper bundles in the stack during transfer of the stack from one portion of the plant to another or during shipping.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanical apparatus for stacking bundles of siding shingles, and the like, in a predetermined manner, i.e., in a staggered form of arrangement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanized system of stacking shingle bundles, and the like, whereby the mass production by automatic mechanisms of such shingles is further increased.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for stacking bundles of roofing or siding shingles and the like in a mass production system.

In brief, the invention comprises a plurality of platform cars, which cars can be placed alternately on a loading station. The latter station has hydraulic lift mechanism therein, which automatically elevates the superimposed platform car to a bundle receiving position. Transfer mechanism associated with the station transfers the bundles, conveyed by a mass production line, from the line to the elevated platform car. At periodic intervals, automatic mechanisms lower and rotate the platform car 90 so that the following tiers or tier of bundles stacked on the platform car are amassed in a staggered arrangement relative to the bundles previously stacked. Upon the stacks reaching a proper height, automatic mechanism removes the loaded platform car from the station and substitutes in its place an empty platform car to be subsequently loaded with bundles as previously described.

The foregoing and other objects will be readily apparent from the preceding description and from the following more detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, with certain parts deleted and others broken away, showing a relatively fully loaded platform car on a station and showing the station relative to the remaining platform cars;

FIG. 2 is another view in elevation of the stacking station in relation to the bundle transfer apparatus used for transferring the bundles of shingles, and the like, from the mass production line to the mechanized stacking systerm;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View of a detail along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View of a portion of the loading platform and taken along lines 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the connecting mechanism between the platform cars.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a frame 1 comprises a plurality of vertical supports 2 standing on a base support 3, which may be the floor of the manufacturing plant. Within the area partially enclosed by the supports 2 is located a hydraulic lift 4 comprising a non-rotable table 5 secured to a hydraulic cylinder 7. The hydraulic cylinder 7 extends into the base support 3 and is movable in a vertical direction to lift the non-rotating table to a predetermined height. Such hydraulic elevator systems, per se, are well known in the art and the specific details thereof have not been illustrated; however. sufiice it to say, the instant system is of the type which elevates the tables 5 and 8 (referred to further, below) to their initial loading position in one stroke and lowers the tables 5 and 8 in increments, with each increment being approximately equal to the height or thickness of a bundle 25.

Mounted on the non-rotating table 5 is the rotatable table 8 referred to above, comprising a platform 9, reinforced by ribs 9a, on a sleeve 10 (FIG. 3); the tables 5 and 8 together with the lift mechanism, may be considered to be a loading station. A bushing 11 is secured to table 5 and extends within the sleeve 10; the sleeve is mounted on the bushing by roller bearings 12 in bearing sleeves 87, 88 so that the platform 9 and the sleeve 10 may be rotated about the bushing and about the fixed table 5. The hearing structure is retained to the bushing lit by washer 89 secured to the bushing by bolt 94 Between the platform 9 and table 5 is mounted a hydraulic cylinder or servomotor 13 having at one end an annular extension 15 pivoted about a pivot support 16 secured to the nonrotating table 5. The operating plunger 14 of the servomotor 13 has its free yoked end 17 attached to a bushing extension 18; the yoke 17 and the extension 18 are secured together by a conventional retainer pin 19. To facilitate rotation of rotatable table 8 after the superposition of a load of bundles, platform 2 has secured on its underside a plurality of brackets for mounting wheels 36 therein. The planes of the wheels 86 are approximately at right angles to radius lines emanating from the center of circular table '9 and are mounted adjacent the outer periphery of the table. Thus, complete support is provided for the table 8, even when fully loaded, by the central sleeve 10 on its bearings and by the plurality of wheels 86 adjacent the periphery of the platform 9.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, a platform car 20 rests upon the rotatable table 8 and has its wheels 21, which are supported by channel bars 22, situated within guides 23 secured to the rotatable table 8. The members 23 are guide rails for initially directing the platform car 20 on the rotatable table 8. Superimposed on the platform car 20 is a flanged U-shaped loading tray 24, properly positioned and held in place by brackets 24a; the tray is used to facilitate removal of a stack of bundles from the platform car 20 by a fork lift truck by insertion of the forks of the truck underneath the flanged members of the loading tray 24.

L-shaped supports 26, mounted on the upper portions of legs 2, support a pair of spindles 27 at the ends thereof; nuts 28 at the ends of the spindles prevent release or detachment of such spindles from their supporting structure. A pair of arms 29, capable of oscillation, are centrally mounted at the ends of each spindle 27; each arm has at one end thereof an opening 30 having passed therethrough a second spindle 31, and a U groove 32 at the opposite extremity for straddling a stub spindle 33 therein. Each upper spindle 31 has joined thereto, at its approximate midpoint, an actuating rod 34 of a double end, double acting fluid cylinder or fluid motor 35. The action of motor 35 is such that, upon actuation, the upper portion of each oscillating arm 29 is pulled inwardly toward the motor and the lower portion of arm 29 is rocked outwardly away from the motor as the arm pivots about spindle 27. The motor 35 is supported by conventional support means 36 secured in any conventional manner, as, for example, by a crossbar to the vertical legs 2.

An L-shaped platform 37 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) is se cured to stub spindles 33 engaged by the lower portions of rods 29 and has secured thereto a guide rod 38 sliding in a guide support 39; roller balls 49 are mounted in a manner to produce a ball bearing effect in the upper surface of each platform to facilitate the movement of the bundles from one end of each platform to the opposite end. Thus, in the deactivated or at rest position of fluid motor 35, platform 37 is in a bundle loading position and the ends of the bundles are supported by roller balls 40. -At a predetermined time in the loading cycle, motor 35 is actuated to pivot arms 29 about their central support. Stub shafts 33 are moved outwardly away from the bundles causing rods 38 to slide within guides 39; the bundle supporting portions of platforms 37 are thus moved and guided away from the bundles until each platform 37 is completely free of the previously superposed bundles, thus allowing the bundles to drop by gravity to the stack of bundles or to the loading tray below.

A limiting plate 41 is mounted adjacent the platforms 37 by a guide rod 42 riding in a housing 42a (FIG. 2); also secured thereto is a link 43 having its opposite end secured, as by pin 45, to one leg of a bell crank lever 46. The lever has its central portion secured by pin 47 to a pair of journals 48 attached to the frame 1; the free end of the outer leg of the bell crank has secured thereto by pin 49 a guide rod 50 connected to an air cylinder 52. The latter cylinder is pivotally mounted to a support 52a and secured by a connecting plate 51 to a crossbar of the frame 1. The purpose of the limiter 41 is to stop the first tier of bundles on the platforms 37 at a fixed point within frame 1; in the position shown in FIG. 2, the limiter allows two bundles to be recieved on the platforms 37. This is necessary in view of the type of loading tray used which requires that the first tier of bundles be comprised of only two bundles. After receipt of the first tier, or two bundles only, a limiter 41 is moved backwards by air cylinder 52 to a position wherein an additional bundle may be received on the platforms; this new position of the limiter is taken by the translation of rod 50 by motor 52, which rod rotates bellcrank 46 about its pivot 47, thereby thrusting link 43 toward the adjacent frame legs 2..

Secured on a support 54 (FIG. 1) attached to frame sections 26 is a switch 55 having its actuating arm 56 and roller 57 in the line of travel of oscillating arm 29; the purpose of the switch 55 will be hereinafter described in greater detail. Also mounted on one of the upright legs 2 are a plurality of switches 58, 53a, 58b, 58c, 58d, 58a, 58 these latter switches control the downward incrementing of the platforms 5, 8 and superimposed car 20, also, hereinafter described in greater detail. In addition to its incrementing function, switch 58 also controls fluid to motor 52 so that it places limiter 41, during the initial portions of the stacking cycle in a two bundle receiving position and, for the major portion of the cycle, in a three bundle receiving position.

A conveyor belt 59, referring now to FIG. 2, has its upper reach approximately in line with the balls 49 on platforms 37 so that the bundles conveyed thereon are smoothly transferred from the conveyor to the pair of platforms 37 within the frame 1; the conveyor 59 is mounted for rotation on drums 66 in a conventional manner. The drums are powered by a drive motor 61 by conventional connecting drive linkage.

Mounted on a shaft 62 (FIGS. 1 and 2) in bearings 64, which are attached to frame l, are a pair of rubber rollers 63 which are engaged by the bundles on the platforms 37 and which give added translational impetus to the bundles for further movement of the bundles on the balls 4-0 of the platforms 37. The shaft 62 has a sprocket 62a at one end thereof, which sprocket is connected to the drive motor 61 by conventional drive linkage.

The assembly line main conveyor 65 (FIG. 2) has its extremity positioned adjacent transfer conveyor belt 59. Mounted adjacent the end of the conveyor 65' is an oscillator type actuating rod 67 supported at its approximate midpoint by a pin 63 in a yoke type support 63a mounted to the conveyor frame. A pusher bar 69 is secured to the upper extremity of the rod 67, and the opposite end 7th is yoked to recieve a pin 71; the pin is secured to an actuator rod 72 of servomotor 73 mounted on frame 74. Switch 73a, mounted at the extremity of the conveyor 65, is actuated by the bundles conveyed on the conveyor and places servomotor 73 into operation thereby oscillating rod 67 about its central pivot and causing pusher bar to kick the bundles on the main conveyor belt 65 sideways to the transfer conveyor belt 59 from whence they are conveyed to the platforms 37.

The cars 2 3 260:, 2%, referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, have a means of attachment which permits joint horizontal movement of the cars, i.e., coupling of the cars, and, at the same time, allows for vertical movement of any one of the cars relative to the other cars, when such car is at the loading station. The car coupling comprises a yoke '74 attached to one end of a car and a ball attached to the adjacent end of an adjacent car. The yoke 74 is recessed at 75a to receive the ball 75 only in a vertical direction; thus, during horizontal movement of the cars, ball 75 is located within recess 75a to provide for proper engagement of the cars and cannot be disengaged from the recess provided only horizontal movement exists. During elevation of a platform car 20 by hydraulic lift '4, ball '75 frees itself from recess 75a in an adjacent car yoke 7 permitting the associated platform car to be elevated to the proper position.

Cables 77 are attached to eye brackets 76 secured to the end cars and are secured to winches 79 (only one of which is shown) attached to drive motors 78. The motors 78 are automatically actuated to place the assocated cable 77 in tension in moving a loaded platform car from the loading station and replacing it with an empty platform car, as by the actuation of switch 81, hereinafter described. In the system illustrated, three cars are illustrated. Ordinarily however, five to seven cars are used with the end cars being attached to cables 77 wrapped around winches 79 on either side of the loading platform. The motors are operated in sequence so that the platform cars are pulled towards one motor and alternately towards the other motor on the opposite side of the loading station.

A switch 81 mounted adjacent the floor or base structure 3, has an extended actuating arm 86' engaged by the platform 5; the switch controls a hydraulic motor 83, which operates an actuating rod 84 secured to type locks or brakes 82. The locks are positioned in such a manner that when one of the motors 83 is actuated, a wheel of an adjacent platform car 26a is received within the bight of the V lock thereby locking the whole train of cars on one side of the frame it. A similar locking arrangement is provided for the cars on the opposite side of the frame. The locking arrangement is necessary so that the balls 75 properly engage with the recesses 75a upon lowering of the platform car on the loading station. To guarantee proper movement of the platform cars and also proper location of the cars when the cars are halted, the wheels of each of the platform cars, when outside the loading platform, ride in guide rails 23a, 23b secured to the floor 3. The latter rails are in line with guide rails 23 when the rotating table 55 is in its initial position.

The operation of the system is as follows. Hydraulic lift 4, initially, is in its fully recessed or its downward position; the appropriate motor 78 is operated thereby pulling the train of platform cars 20, 2%, etc., so that a platform car 2b is positioned on the rotating platform 8. The train of cars is at all times guided by guide rails 23 on the rotatable table 8 and guide rails 23a and 2332 on the floor 3 of the plant. A control (not shown) on the lift 4 is operated thereby elevating platforms 5 and 8 and car 21} to the proper height, i.e., to an initial bundle receiving position. Ball 75, on one side of car 2G, disengages itself from socket '74 attached to an adjacent car 24M on one side of the loading platform, and socket 75a on the opposite side of the platform car disengages itself from ball 75 attached to an adjacent car 2% on the opposite side of the loading platform. As the hydraulic plunger '7 elevates the rotatable table 8, non-rotatable table 5 and car 2%), levers 80 are tripped by platform 5; these levers are thereafter maintained in position by a spring (not shown) and actuate switches 81 during the tripping movement. The latter, in turn, activate fluid motors 83 to position V locks 82 adjacent the wheels of the superposed cars thereby locking the cars in place. As the platforms are elevated, switch 58 is tripped, which switch controls, inter alia, the operation of fluid motor 52. The motor is operated in a manner to place limit plate 41 in its extended position so that only two bundles can be initially loaded on the loading tray on the platform car The bundles 25, conveyed by the conveyor system 65, are conveyed to a point where one of the bundles is adjacent switch 73a; the switch is tripped thereby actuating fluid motor 73. Rod 67 is oscillated about its pivot 58 and pusher bar 59 pushes the tripping bundle 25 to conveyor belt 5?. Upon receipt of the bundle by conveyor 59, switch 73a. returns to its normal position thereby returning motor 73 and pusher bar '69 also to their normal positions, in readiness for the next oncoming bundle. The bundle 25 is conveyed on the transfer belt until the ends of the bundle slide along the rotatable balls 9 on the platforms 37. The upper surface of the bundle is engaged by positively driven roller es, and the roller gives an additional impetus to the moving bundle. The forward progress of the bundle is such that it halts just short of the limiting stop 41. A second bundle is similarly conveyed; however, the added impetus given to the second bundle by roller 63 also moves the first bundle so that it engages limit stop 41. A switch 41:: on the limit stop is tripped thereby actuating the double end, double actiru motor 35. The motor forces rods 34, on each side of the motor, inwardly and also rotates rocking arm 29 about its central pivot. Platforms 37, operatively connected to the lower end of arm 29, are moved outwardly away from motor and also out of supporting engagement with the bundles superimposed thereon, so that the bundles, now unsuspended, drop into the recess of the loading tray 24. During oscillation of arm 29, roller 57 is engaged and switch 55' is operated. This operates the hydraulic controls on lift 4, and the tables 5, 8 are lowered; this action continues until switch 58 is tripped which stops the flow of the fluid of lift 4, and the tables 5, 3 are stopped at this position. The action of motor 35 is almost instantaneous, and the motor is of such a type that it returns arms 29 to their original positions, or retracts its plungers 34, automatically. Return movement of arm 29 also allows arm 56 of switch 55 to return to its original position.

Switch 58 is operatively connected to motor 52 so that upon engagement of this switch, the motor rotates bell crank 46 and retracts plate 41 to its other extreme position, whereby a third bundle may also be received on the loading platforms. The limit stop 41 maintains this position until a complete pile of bundles has been stacked on the platform car 2t and is returned to its previous position by actuation of switch 58 on return movement of the platforms 5 and 8.

Switch 58, when engaged, likewise actuates motor 13, which forces its plunger 14 inwardly thereby rotating pl atform 8 about bushing 11 on hearing 12. The degree of inward movement of plunger 14 is such that approximately of rotation of the platform 8 is produced.

A second tier of bundles is similarly loaded on the first tier and on the loading tray, except, this time, three bundles are stacked thereon. Also, since the rotatable platform has been rotated through 90, the bundles of the second tier are superimposed 90 relative to the bundles of the first tier. The particular staggering arrangement may be altered to fit particular requirements merely by changing the connections of switches 58, 58a, 58b, etc., with relation to operating motor 13. In the arrangement illustrated, tiers B and C have their bundles parallel to each other While tiers A and D have their bundles parallel to each other. Thus, in the instant control system, switches 58 and 58b operate control motor 13. The latter switch, upon actuation, returns plunger 14 to its original position so that rotatable table 8 is rotated 90 to its original position.

This stacking arrangement is continued until the bundles have reached the proper height; at this time, lift 4 is in its lower-most position and arms 80, forced downwardly by table 5, have actuated switches 81. Likewise, all the cars are now fully interlocked for movement as balls 75 and recesses 75a of the cars adjacent car 20 have intermeshed. Plungers 84 have been operated by motors 83, the latter being controlled by switches 81, to return V locks 82 to their original positions; the train of cars is now in position for horizontal movement when pulled by one of the motors 78. One of the switches 81 operates the appropriate motor 78 through a time delay and the train of cars is pulled, either to the right or to the left, so that the loaded platform car 2t) is removed from platforms 5, ti and is replaced by the adjacent empty platform car, either 29a or 26b; upon proper positioning of ither, car Zita or Zllb, motor 78 is automatically braked and the car, Ztla or 2012, is ready to receive bundles thereon. Loaded platform car 20 is now in position to have its bundles and loading tray removed by fork lift truck.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that the details given are for the purpose of illustration, not restriction, and that variations within the spirit of the invention are intended to be included in the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A bundle stacking system comprising a plurality of juxtapositioned platform cars, means to interconnect the cars for joint horizontal, reciprocating movement of the cars but for individual movement of the cars in a vertical direction, a bundle loading station, means to move the cars to place one of the cars on said one station, means to elevate the platform car on the station out of the line of cars, means actuated by upward movement of said platform car elevating means to positively lock the cars adjacent said one platform car to fix their positions relative to the station, means to load tiers of bundles on the elevated platform car, means to successively lower the elevated platform car upon successive loading of tiers of bundles on the elevated platform car until such car is returned to its original plac in the line of cars and is again interlocked therewith, and means to rotate the elevated platform car at preselected intervals during stacking in order to stagger the subsequent stacking arrangement of the bundles, said locking means being deactuated upon return of said platform car elevating mean to its lower position.

2. A bundle stacking system comprising a plurality of juxtapositioned platform cars, means to interconnect the cars for joint horizontal movement of the cars but for individual movement of the cars in a vertical direction, a bundle loading station, means to move the car in either horizontal direction along an axial line to place one of the cars on the station, linear track means passing through the loading station which guide the horizontal movement of the cars, means to elevate said one platform car on the station out of the line of cars, means actuated by upward movement of said platform car elevating means to positively lock the cars adjacent said one platform car to fix their positions on the track relative to the station, means to rotate the elevated platform car at pre-selected intervals, and means to successively lower the elevated platform car upon successive loading of tiers of bundles on the elevated platform car until such car is again interlocked with the line of cars and the track means on the station are properly realigned with the remainder of the track means, said locking means being deactuated upon return of said platform car elevating means to its lower position.

3. Apparatus for stacking bundles of asphalt shingles comprising a plurality of platform cars, means to interlock the cars for joint horizontal movement of the cars but allowing for individual movement of the cars in a vertical direction, a bundle loading station, means to move the cars in either horizontal direction along an axial line to place one of the cars on the loading station, mean to elevate said one platform car on the station out of the line of cars, means actuated by upward movement of said platform car elevating means to positively lock the cars adjacent said one platform car to fix their positions relative to the station, a bundle conveyor, a loading platform, means to transfer the bundles from the conveyor to the platform, means to deposit the bundles of shingles from the platform to the platform car, mean to rotate the elevated platform car at periodic intervals, and means to periodically lower the elevated platform car upon successive loading of tiers of bundles on the elevated platform car until such car has been receded to its place in the line of cars and interlock therewith, said locking means being deactuated upon return of said platform car elevating means to its lower position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,384,393 Luce July 12, 1921 2,186,854 Auger et a1. Jan. 9, 1940 2,315,003 Martin et a1 Mar. 30, 1943 2,828,871 Bradsley et al Apr. 1, 1958 2,883,074 Boehl et a1 Apr. 21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 812,537 Germany July 8, 1949 

